Critical reading involves analyzing a text beyond just understanding it at a surface level. It requires asking questions about the strengths and weaknesses of arguments presented in the text. Some key aspects of critical reading include determining an author's purpose and viewpoint, separating facts from opinions, evaluating logic and evidence, and deciding whether to accept or reject the information. To be a critical reader, one should reflect carefully on what a text says, describes, and means by asking questions about the author's qualifications, potential biases, and missing information. Taking notes, marking up the text, and reading slowly and openly are important practices for developing critical reading abilities.

1. BY: JOHN RENZO I. MOLINAR
BSED IV – E PHYSICAL SCIENCE
CRITICAL READING

2. What is Critical
Reading?

3. Critical Reading
Critical reading means that a
reader applies certain
processes, questions, and
theories that result in
enhanced clarity and
comprehension. (csuohio.edu)

4. Critical Reading
Critical reading is the process
of reading that goes beyond
just understanding a
text. It often involves asking
questions about the reading.
In particular, you’re examining
the strengths and weaknesses
of the reading's argument.
(Massey University)
4

5. Critical Reading
Critical reading means
engaging in what you read by
asking yourself questions such
as, ‘what is the author trying
to say?’ or ‘what is the main
argument being presented?’
(SkillsYouNeed.com)

6. Reasons for using
it…

7. Critical Reading
Critical reading is used to
determine the value of reading
material for your own purposes, to
detect logic that is faulty on the
part of the author, to separate
fact from opinion, and to
determine whether to accept the
information being presented or
reject it. (Reading Skills for
College Students. 7th ed.)

8. Decision Making
• Critical reading helps you
make informed decisions
and form sound opinions.

9. Tip no. 1
• Simply because
something is
published doesn’t
make it necessarily
true. Therefore, you
must question what
you read.

10. Tip no. 2
• By comparing
information on the
same subject from
different sources,
you can select the
best information for
your own purposes.

11. Critical reader vs.
Non-Critical reader
To non -critical readers, texts
provide facts. Readers gain
knowledge by memorizing the
statements within a text. To
the critical reader, any single
text provides but one portrayal of
the facts, one individual’s “take”
on the subject matter.
(Criticalreading.com)

12. Critic vs. Critique
Both critic and critique can
be used as nouns. However,
only critique can be used as
verb.
Critic means the person who
makes the criticism. A
critique is a detailed analysis
and assessment.
Ex.
The critic critiqued the
performance and wrote a
detailed critique.

13. How to be a
Critical reader?
• As a critical reader you
should reflect on:
• What the text says: after
critically reading a piece you
should be able to take notes,
paraphrasing - in your own
words - the key points.

14. • What the text describes: you
should be confident that you
have understood the text
sufficiently to be able to use
your own examples and
compare and contrast with
other writing on the subject in
hand.

15. • Interpretation of the
text: this means that you
should be able to fully
analyze the text and state a
meaning for the text as a
whole.

16. Questions to
Consider
• When reading critically
ask yourself the
following:
• Is the author qualified to write
about the subject?
• Is any important information
missing?
• Is the information being
presented mostly fact or
opinion?

17. • The answers to these
questions will help
you evaluate the
quality and
usefulness of the
reading material.

18. What does it take to
be a critical reader?
• 1. Prepare to become part
of the writer's audience.
• After all, authors design texts for
specific audiences, and becoming a
member of the target audience
makes it easier to get at the author's
purpose. Learn about the author, the
history of the author and the text,
the author's anticipated audience;
read introductions and notes.

19. • 2. Prepare to read with an
open mind.
• Critical readers seek knowledge;
they do not "rewrite" a work to
suit their own personalities. Your
task as an enlightened critical
reader is to read what is on the
page, giving the writer a fair
chance to develop ideas and
allowing yourself to reflect
thoughtfully, objectively, on the
text.

20. • 3. Consider the title.
• This may seem obvious, but
the title may provide clues
to the writer's attitude,
goals, personal viewpoint, or
approach.

21. • 4. Read slowly.
• Again, this appears
obvious, but it is a
factor in a "close
reading." By slowing
down, you will make
more connections
within the text.

22. • 5. Use the dictionary
• and other appropriate
reference works.
• If there is a word in the text that
is not clear or difficult to define
in context: look it up. Every word
is important, and if part of the
text is thick with technical terms,
it is doubly important to know how
the author is using them.

23. • 6. Make notes.
• Jot down marginal notes, underline
and highlight, write down ideas in a
notebook, do whatever works for
your own personal taste. Note for
yourself the main ideas, the thesis,
the author's main points to support
the theory. Writing while reading
aids your memory in many ways,
especially by making a link that is
unclear in the text concrete in your
own writing.

24. • 7. Keep a reading journal
• In addition to note-taking, it is
often helpful to regularly record
your responses and thoughts in a
more permanent place that is
yours to consult. By developing a
habit of reading and writing in
conjunction, both skills will
improve.

25. Thank You!!!